TTD has objected to Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s offer of “Tirumala Nitya Harathi Darshan” to Karnataka VIPs, saying the privilege cannot be extended without the temple board’s approval.
A TTD Trust Board member called the announcement an “authoritative overreach” and said the special darshan is a non-transferable honour linked to the long-standing relationship between Tirumala and the Mysore royal family. He said the privilege was granted in recognition of their contribution and charity to Tirumala, and not as a facility that can be recommended by any state government.
The objection has now turned the issue into a matter of protocol and temple authority. The board member warned that such an announcement could lead to similar demands from other states in the future. He also urged Shivakumar not to politicise a sacred honour or turn Tirumala into a place for political privileges.
According to the report, the matter is expected to be taken up at the TTD Trust Board meeting on Tuesday. The controversy has drawn attention because the Nitya Harathi is offered in the sanctum sanctorum to a very limited group, including the Maharaja of Mysore, monks, and a few designated representatives.
The episode reflects a larger tension between political announcements and temple traditions. At a shrine as revered as Tirumala, even small changes in access and privilege can trigger strong reactions.
TTD member objects to D.K. Shivakumar’s Tirumala Nitya Harathi offer to Karnataka VIPs, calling it an overreach made without consulting the temple board.
